Liberation [completed]

Thank You Dinner - Mia

I stare at the bag he had left. I was sure he was going to kidnap me. Why did he pick me though? He could have anyone. Was it some sick joke for him? I had to get out of here now. I needed clothes first and I had them in my bag that was clutched to my chest. But I did need new clothes too. I could wear them and run off. A part of me wanted to thank him but he only saved me to have me for himself. It was sick how these men loved to use women for their pleasure. I hated it.

After changing, I try to open the door but he locked it. Of course, he did. The minute he unlocked the door I would bolt. I knock on the door he had gotten out of and quickly move back to my side, my hand already on the handle of the door. I wait for him to unlock the car, the second I hear the click, I push the door open and clamber out frantically and take in my surrounding.

I had to pause, this was all so new and different. I hadn't looked out the window on the drive here but I could tell we were on the rich part- the upper east side. It was packed with people all in rich cloths. They wore really nice dresses and business suits. It was all so overwhelming. They were all too busy to notice me but I wasn't. I knew I should be running but everything seemed so new and fascinating. 

"Hey!" I hear the stranger's voice calling me, that's the trigger that shoots me forward in a sprint.

I take off in the opposite direction the car was parked. As I run I try to weave between people and duck around them. It was clear that this was the shopping district of the city.  I threw my backpack over my shoulder and frantically looked around at street directions. My eyes roamed around taking in everything, I felt so lost here. I felt panic rising inside of me but I refused to let it control me. I turned to the a shop with a glass window. It was a handbag shop, as I ran past it, I saw a reflection of myself. I look terrible in these clothes. I looked like an imposter. I was too thin, too ragged and too dirty. I whip my face forward and my eyes land on a woman who was in a tight dress and heels she looked so professional, like she owned the world. She was on her phone and looked irritated. She fit so well in here. 

I didn't.

"LADY!" I hear him calling from behind me and get surprised at how close he was.

I push forward but his yelling has gained the attention of some of the passer-bys. Just as I turn around to see how close he really was, a man slams into me and holds me in place. I try to push past him to keep running but he stops me, his arms digging into my bones. It seemed like I was collecting bruises today.

"You looking for her?" He asks the stranger and spins me around so I don't get a good look at his face, "If you were that desperate to steal at least try to hide the cloths" He admonishes and I want to turn around and give him a death glare. I try to shake my way out of his grip but like all of them, he was stronger than me. 

"Yeah, thanks," The stranger says looking down at me disapprovingly and back at the man gratefully.

"No problem, just happy to do a good deed. Kinda stupid to walk out in the clothes she wanted to steal though" He jokes with the stranger, like they were buddies. 

"What?" The stranger asks confused but then he realises what the man was implying and I see his hand rising up above my face. I duck down to avoid the blow.

"FUCK!" the man holding me cries and lets me go. 

I turn to see if the man was ok and realise I should have just run! The stranger immediately grabs my hand and pulls me to him. I suck in a sharp breath again at his touch. The battle I was having to leave him seemed useless now, I just wanted to stay with him. It was safer that way. It felt safer cause of him. 

"She isn't a thief you ass hole" He spits and I look up at him confused as to why he was defending me. That was twice today. He pulls me back to stand behind him, "And I'm Asher Billard, you fucker, not some sales staff" He spits.